The Foxes boss would be prepared to give their 15-goal top scorer a break after he has played through injury and illness this season.

Vardy has shaken off a recent virus but has also played with a broken wrist and an ankle problem this season.

He is set to start in Saturday's game against Bournemouth with Leicester second in the Barclays Premier League, but Ranieri will give the 28-year-old a breather soon.

He said: "Yes, when I think it's the right moment to give him a rest I'll give it to him. At the moment he doesn't need one yet. Now it's important to carry on with him.

"Jamie had a little problem for one or two months and of course he didn't train every day. The last days he's had a fever and he's not 100 per cent.

"This is another aspect, everyone is saying 'top of the league, top of the league' but we are running a lot. Now we must continue at this top level because when we put the other teams under pressure we are very dangerous but we have to run.

"We can continue at this level but one thing is to not be relegated and one thing is to be at the top of the league."

Title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal face Champions League ties with Dynamo Kiev and Barcelona respectively when that competition resumes in February while City are also in the League Cup semi final against Stoke.

Leicester only have the league and FA Cup to focus on and Ranieri wants the games to pile up on their competitors.

He added: "This is good for us because big teams play in a lot of competitions: the Champions League, the FA Cup, League Cup and Premier League. I want them to continue to win in the Champions League until the end."